Russia President Vladimir Putin has called for talks on the "statehood" of parts of Ukraine where pro-Moscow rebels have been fighting for independence.

In a television interview, Putin said the talks should take place immediately and cover not only technical issues but also "the political organization of society and statehood in southeastern Ukraine."

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He added that Moscow, for its part, could not stay on the sidelines while people were being shot "almost at point blank," Reuters reported the Kremlin leader as saying.

A Russian presidential spokesman, however, said Putin's remarks should not be interpreted as Moscow's endorsement of the rebels' independence campaign.

The spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, added that only Ukraine can negotiate a political settlement with "New Russia," a term that the rebels use for territory they have seized from Kiev's control.

On the future status of New Russia, Peskov answered in the affirmative when asked if it should remain part of Ukraine.

Ukraine says it is prepared to discuss demands for more rights for the south and east but rejects direct talks with the rebels, whom it calls "international terrorists" controlled by Moscow.

Previous talks on the Ukraine conflict involved a "contact group" representing Kiev, Moscow and the rebels.

The meetings focused on technical issues, including access to the rebel-held town in eastern Ukraine where a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down in July, and did not tackle political questions.

Rebel leader Andrei Purgin, from the group Donetsk People's Republic, said he would attend talks in the Belarus capital Minsk on Monday.

Moscow's call for political talks to end the war in Ukraine came as European Union leaders discussed imposing further sanctions on Russia amid signs that it has been sending military support to the rebels.

The U.S., which is also considering new measures against Russia, welcomed the EU move "to show strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

But some EU members have expressed concerns that the sanctions could backfire as their economies are heavily reliant on Russian energy imports.

Tagsrussia-ukraine